DELIVERING THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY’S SOLUTIONS TO THE WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT LEGISLATION (WEEE)

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End of Life Luminaires

LIF Technical Statement No. 40

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – Guidance for the handling of end of life luminaires

The UK legislation on WEEE came into force on 1st July 2007. This requires the removal of end of life lighting equipment and delivery to plants where recycling will be performed. There are a wide variety of luminaries with various components that can be found in installations. Some of these components may contain restricted substances that need to be segregated out for separate collection for recycling. This will be necessary to avoid contamination of recyclable luminaire waste. The three most important components that need to be handled separately are lamps, batteries in self-contained emergency luminaires and power factor correction capacitors. Here are some simple steps that when followed helps to segregate parts and identify luminaire types:

Remove lamp(s) and store safely for separate collection and disposal. This may require first the removal of the optic from luminaire
Identify if it is a self-contained emergency lighting luminaire by locating the charge indicator (neon or LED) or has visible batteries. If an emergency luminaire, locate and remove battery, store safely for separate collection and disposal - click here for detailed advice
Locate capacitor and determine if it is liquid filled, (likely to be over 30 years old luminaire having magnetic ballast and the capacitor may contain CFCs) if so, remove the capacitor and store safely for separate collection and disposal

Failure to separate these items from the luminaire will lead to the lamps, battery and/or capacitor contaminating the luminaire material during shredding. Failure to segregate may have legal implications under hazardous waste regulations. The waste material will also require costly after treatment of this batch, as it will have to be treated as hazardous waste.

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Capacitors containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) for Fluorescent and Discharge Lighting

When large enough numbers of lighting capacitors are to be disposed of together, then the procedures for bulk disposal of PCBs should be followed involving incineration at plant specially designed for that purpose. Full guidance is given in the Department of Environment Waste Management Paper No. 6.

Similar precautions will apply to re-lighting projects when it is necessary to dispose of large quantities of obsolete luminaires with PCB-filled capacitors, or ballasts incorporating PCB-filled capacitors.

Many local authorities have waste disposal officers who can offer practical advice and guidance on disposal procedures during the initial stages of a replacement programme.

PCBs – The Facts

Small PCB–filled capacitors were used in discharge and fluorescent lamp luminaires until about 1976 and some of these luminaires may still be in service. Typically capacitors contain about 50 grammes of the lower chlorinated PCBs, mostly absorbed in the windings of the capacitor. These capacitors do not carry a label identifying a PCB content but they are normally date-coded. Lighting capacitors made in the UK after 1976 are unlikely to contain PCBs.

From 1974 UK capacitor manufacturers began the changeover to metallised paper (mineral oil impregnated) or metallised polypropylene (dry film). Government regulations banned the sale of PCB-filled capacitors from 30 June 1996. Installed lighting capacitors containing PCBs can continue to be used if the capacitor case remains serviceable.

Lighting capacitors eventually fail and in certain instances the PCB may leak out. As warm PCB has the consistency and appearance of light oil, it can flow into the luminaire body and onto a diffuser. The total amount of PCB in a capacitor is small:

250V capacitors (typically 8.4 µF) contain typically 30cc.
440V capacitors (typically 7.2 µF) contain typically 55cc.

If a PCB leakage occurs, it will normally manifest itself in the early stages as a brown stain on the luminaire and/or diffuser. In these circumstances the luminaire should first be isolated from the mains. Operatives should wear gloves and avoid direct contact with the liquid. The capacitor should be removed from the luminaire and wrapped in absorbent material. It should then be placed in a plastic bag with any material used to clean the luminaire.

It may be disposed of with other normal waste unless local requirements specify otherwise. Operatives should replace the defective capacitor with a suitable capacitor of modern construction.

Since all the luminaires in the installation were probably installed at the same time, the other capacitors should be checked for signs of leakage.

If the capacitors are intact they need not be disturbed. The capacitor makers, however, would recommend that all PCB filled capacitors should be replaced. In most circumstances, changing to new, energy efficient, luminaires will provide a safe, long term solution.

Bibliography

Department of the Environment Waste Management Paper No.6: Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Wastes 1976 (revised December 1994) HM Stationery Office.

Statutory Instrument 1980, 1709 - The Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. HM Stationery Office.

Statutory Instrument 1986 902 The Control of Pollution (Supply and use of Injurious Substances) Regulations 1986. HM Stationery Office.

Department of the Environment circular 9/88 on the Regulations Welsh Office Circular 11/88 on the 1986 Regulations Health & Safety Executive Information Note on PCBs HSE 846/3

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